Gabriel Valencia

Gabriel Valencia (1799-1848) was the President of Mexico from 30 December 1845 to 2 January 1846 and a general of the Mexican Army during the Mexican-American War.

Biography
Gabriel Valencia was born in 1799 in New Spain (present-day Mexico) to a criollo family. Valencia became one of the generals of the early years of the Republic of Mexico, and commanded forces under President Anastasio Bustamante. In 1839, he won the Battle of Acajete against Jose Antonio Mexia during the Mexican Federalist War of 1839-1840. On 15 July 1840, Valencia put down a rebellion by Jose Urrea and Valentin Gomez Farias against President Bustamante, forcing them to release him after they held him prisoner. However, on 4 September 1841 he joined Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Juan Alvarez, and Mariano Paredes in a revolution against President Bustamante, although he was exiled to Italy when the revolution failed. He later returned to Mexico after Bustamante was overthrown, and on 30 December 1845 he overthrew President Jose Joaquin de Herrera in support of Paredes. From then to 2 January 1846, Valencia served as interim President of Mexico. After three days, Paredes became the new President of Mexico, succeeding Valencia.

During the Mexican-American War, Valencia commanded Mexican forces opposing United States general Winfield Scott's advance from Veracruz to Mexico City, and on 19 August 1847 he fought Scott in the Battle of Contreras, with Santa Anna in command of Mexican forces. Valencia was disloyal to Santa Anna and overextended his army deep into American territory, and Santa Anna could not help him; Valencia's army was destroyed. He died in 1848.